Background Information:

Caucus: a meeting is held to discuss the candidates and anyone can attend these meetings
Primary: people cast a ballot for the candidate for who they wish to elect, 2 types of primaries: CLOSED: can only vote for the candidate of your declared party; OPEN: you can vote for any candidate in any party

Republicans:

Michele Bachmann: potential plummeted when Rick Perry enter race, picked up her intensity in a recent debate, but she still has a lot of work to do to try and be in the top front rummers to become the candidate- by the looks of it, it doesn't seem likely that she will be but things can always change

Herman Cain: his "affair" is really hurting his campaign, he's not really giving direct answers and his lawyer and he are not on the same page, but he has a good political background, people seem to like what he knows, well did anyway;

Newt Gingrich: national recognition of the Republican party, has lots of experience with politics, but his persoanl life is getting in the way of his potential candidacy, writer and can think quick n his feet so in debates it makes him look really good

Ron Paul: good background, amny supporters, media still isn't giving him the credit he deserves, as if "avioding" him, has made huge strides in his campaign, but people fear that if some of his ideas have a downfall, then it will damage his campaign

Rick Perry: wasn't planning on running for president, epected to be a challenge for Mitt Romeny, and with being in the footsteps Bush was in, he is very popilar, but some people still do not like him because he has a lot of the same views as Bush

Mitt Romeny: wants to please everyone. so he cahnges his viewpoints on topics frequently; he is trying to stay out of the media all the time, only making certain appearaces, so he doesn't get all his stardom at once, keeping it low-key

Rick Santorum: has a very go-for-it attitude, good experience, rising Republican star

John Huntsmann

Democrat:

Obama: current presidecnt of the U.S., lots of his ideas are hurting him now such as: medicare and unemployment rate, a lot of his supporters do not like his decisions, not many people want him back for a second term, while he is intelligent, his decisions have effected the country, and he has raised our national debt by so much.

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BACKGROUND INFO ON RON PAUL:

Researcher for Ron Paul

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/03/paul-campaign-calls-trump-debate-wildly-inappropriate/

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-17/politics/california.straw.poll_1_straw-poll-ron-paul-votes?_s=PM:POLITICS

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-13/politics/iowa.straw.poll_1_ames-straw-poll-iowa-republicans-herman-cain?_s=PM:POLITICS

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/brandstad-on-ron-paul-i-dont-think-hell-win/

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/ron-paul-kept-out-of-rjcs-gop-forum-critics-cheer/

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/gop-foreign-policy-debate-ron-paul-stands-alone/

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/ron-paul-u-s-foreign-aid-to-africa-is-worthless/

http://www.thestatecolumn.com/articles/ron-paul-wants-israel-to-take-care-of-itself/

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-30/opinion/bennett.drug.legalization_1_drug-legalization-illegal-drugs-drug-rehab-center?_s=PM:OPINION

political background

http://www.republicancandidateshq.com/republican-candidate-ron-paul

http://www.p2012.org/candidates/paulorg.html


notes on articles appear in the order of the articles:

• Paul believed that the Donald Trump debate is a distraction to the real issues of the campaign, so he did not attend; Jesse Benton, Paul's campaign chairman, had a lot to say about the debate
• won Califorina straw poll above Rick Perry and Mitt Romney
• Paul lost only by a little in the Iowa straw poll to Bachmann, probing his message was getting out and he was gaining supporters
• Iowa Governor says this about Paul, “Ron Paul has got probably the best organization and has a very loyal following. He’s got more yard signs and bumper stickers than anybody else,” but does not think he will win
• Paul not invited to RJC because of his "misguided and extreme views"
• Paul's view on the foreign policy is different than most Republicans, who usually don't take the stance he is
• doesn't think the US can afford sending money to Africa to help fight malaria and AIDS
• also doesn' think we need to help Israel because he thinks we are getting in its way to take care of itself
• backs up Barney Frank on drug legalization
• military service, entered politics in 1971, ran twice before for president, and was re-elected for congress seat in House of Representatives